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Midnight Cowboy [1969]

starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, John McGiver, Brenda Vaccaro
directed by: John Schlesinger

February 01, 2000
Not only did I see this film for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, but I was fortunate enough to know hardly anything about it, other than the two lead actors and the fact that it always seem to appear on any 'films to see before you die' lists.

Shame on me - this is a fantastic film, unsettling, deeply sad, with two amazing central performances from Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman.

I'm not sure whether I could ever watch it again, as it was emotionally draining, and that's the only reason why I haven't given it 5 stars.

However, this is one of the most moving and powerful films I have ever seen and two weeks on, I feel compelled to put electronic pen to paper.

It genuinely is a film ... Read More:

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The Manchurian Candidate [1962]

starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva
directed by: John Frankenheimer

October 25, 2004
It's not anamorphic widescreen and it's only single-layer, too. There's a better one to be had from amazon.com, though of course it's region one, so be sure you can play it. This film's a keeper, so get the best copy available!

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Breakfast At Tiffany's [1961]

starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam
directed by: Blake Edwards

November 06, 2000
This movie is an absolute must-see for anyone. It combines everything a classic should have - great actors (Audrey is tops and Peppard was never better), a great screenplay, a perfect score and New York (as usual) doing its best. The screenplay departs from the Capote's original but it does so in a way which makes the story work and which could be presented on the screen in 1961 - actually, the story is quite daring for the early 60s but you have to read between the lines every now and then to get it. Anyway, why shouldn't you reach for the original book once you are done watching?
In short - How does it look? I must say I'm amazed.
PS I wouldn't, however, recommend the movie to anyone who wants to quit smoking... ;)
PPS If you need more, you should ... Read More:

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Lawman [1970]

starring: Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Lee J. Cobb, Sheree North, Robert Duvall
directed by: Michael Winner

July 05, 2004
If nothing else, Lawman proves that there is such a thing as a script so good that not even Michael Winner could screw it up, although having an excellent cast doesn't hurt. Burt Lancaster is the lawman of the title, determined to bring in several cattlemen (Robert Duvall among them) only to find that the local boss Lee J. Cobb owns the town and its once famous, now cowardly world-weary sheriff Robert Ryan, who all but steals the film. Curiously, Ryan far preferred this film to The Wild Bunch, though that may be down to Winner's deference to his stars compared with the thoroughly miserable time he had working with Peckinpah (there's another Peckinpah connection in composer Jerry Fielding, who contributes a good, brooding score). Joseph Wiseman, Richard Jordan, Albert Salmi and Sheree ... Read More:

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Connie And Carla [2004]

starring: Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, David Duchovny, Stephen Spinella, Alec Mapa
directed by: Michael Lembeck

January 15, 2008
This is a 'gay' movie for straight people. One of those one's that reminds everyone 'we're people too'. The two main characters are women so we can accept them being drag queens more than if they were men. The gay characters infuriated me. Shallow, vapid, air-heads who can decorate fabulously, darling. All the usual clichés were there. One of the gay guys stands in drag looking ridiculous and says to his straight brother 'you have to accept the parts of me that make you feel sick to your stomach'. Its painful viewing.
It is a funny camp movie but don't be expecting anything more. You won't find it.

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Midnight Cowboy [1969] - Cinema Reserve Edition

starring: Jon Voight, Barnard Hughes, Paul Morrissey, Ruth White, Sylvia Miles
directed by: John Schlesinger

June 18, 2007
One of the few 1960's films to deal with gay subject matter, John Schlesinger's 1969 masterpiece brings together two great actors. Its a story of survival and broken dreams. At its heart, though, Midnight Cowboy is a buddy movie of rather unlikely characters falling into a rather forced friendship. Joe Buck (Jon Voight) heads east from Texas to New York City looking to meet rich, lonely women.
"Lotta rich women back there, Ralph, begging for it, paying for it, too...and the men - they're mostly tutti fruttis. So I'm gonna cash in on some of that, right?...Hell, what do I got to stay around here for? I got places to go, right?"

Joe is hopelessly naive and a bit dumb ("I ain't a fer-real cowboy, but I am one hell of a stud!" he says), and instead of hustling he gets ... Read More:

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Man's Favourite Sport? [1963]

starring: Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss, Maria Perschy, Charlene Holt, John McGiver
directed by: Howard Hawks

February 06, 2006
Roger Willoughby sells fishing equipment, he has also written a book on the subject. So it was inevitable that his boss would enter him in a major fishing tournament. However Roger has a secret. Watch as his secret unfolds and the unique solution.

Howard Hawks directed. As is Hawks' signature this movie is a little chatty like "Bringing up Baby" and "Monkey Business"

Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is found in several precarious positions by his fiancée. At one time he has his tie caught in Easy Muller's (Maria Perschy) zipper. In addition to this Abigail (Paula Prentiss) is spotted coming from his bedroom in her night attire.

Norm Alden plays John Screaming Eagle, a local Indian who speaks like Tonto, and sells many sacred things such as ... Read More:

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Audrey Hepburn Collection Box Set

starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert, Humphrey Bogart
directed by: Billy Wilder, Blake Edwards, Richard Quine, Stanley Donen, William Wyler

October 20, 2003
Firstly note that this box set is available in a different box with same films at less than half the price so buy that one, I did.

Secondly I will rank these films (my wife is in agreement)
1. Paris When It Sizzles - the charm and humour are as good as in any film I have seen. This gem took us by suprise and has more of everything than all the other films. More story, more humour, more charisma, more stars. It quite simply stole our hearts as a beautiful love story.
2. Roman Holiday - everyone should have a holiday like this. It has a wonderful whirlwind romance and shares alot of the same qualities as the "Sizzles".
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's - right up there with with the other 2 but as much as it elates at times at other times it seems wanting. Can ... Read More:

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Mame [1974] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Lucille Ball, Robert Preston, Beatrice Arthur, Bruce Davison, Kirby Furlong
directed by: Gene Saks

June 19, 2007
This is one of my old time favorite movies. It is funny, entertaining, makes you sometimes cry, you will laugh a lot and a great lesson to be yourself, individual and not just keep in line what one is suppose to think and how one has to behave.

And if you are down: just listen to the song "We need a little Christmas now".....your spirits will be lifted and you will get on with life instaed of sinking into self-pity.

You will love this movie!!
Please can I rate it with 10 stars!!

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Love in the Afternoon [1957] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier, John McGiver, Van Doude
directed by: Billy Wilder

January 08, 2002
With two of Hollywood's most glamorous stars, and (despite the silly plot) a sharp and witty script, this film is an evergreen, and one I never tire of watching.
Audrey Hepburn is enchanting as the spunky "Thin Girl", a cello student who falls in love with a millionaire playboy bachelor, played with grace and charm (and quite a bit of humor) by Gary Cooper. Hepburn was 28 at the time, and looked younger, Cooper was 56, and looked perhaps older, but despite the age difference, their chemistry together sparkles and sizzles.

The romantic cat and mouse game played by Hepburn to intrigue and win Cooper's heart is all very innocent and sweet, and I always shed a few tears at the magical ending.
Maurice Chevalier as Hepburn's father, a private detective specializing in matters of love and deception ... Read More: